Mountain-Prairie Region
Endangered Species Program
Wright Fishhook Cactus
Photo credit: Dorde Wright Woodruff
& NPS - Tom Clark
Location: Wright fishhook cactus is known to occur across portions of Utah’s western Emery, southeastern Sevier, central Wayne and a small strip within Garfield Counties. It has been found on soil formations such as Emery sandstone, Mancos shale, Dakota sandstone, Morrison, Summerville, Curtis, Entrada sandstone, Carmel, Moenkopi, and alluvium. Vegetation associations include semi-barren sites within desert scrub or open pinyon juniper woodland communities at 4,200 to 7,600 feet in elevation.
Actions: On August 3, 2005, the Service announced a finding that a petition to remove the Wright fishhook cactus from Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act did not provide substantial biological information to indicate that removal may be warranted.
However, the Act requires a status review of listed species as least once every 5 years. We are electing to initiate this review at this time. A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of nay such information on Wright fishhook cactus that has become available since its original listing as an endangered species in 1979. Based on the results of this 5-year review, the Service will make the requisite finding under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the Act.
- Federal Register Notice: August 3, 2005 90-day petition finding and initiation of a 5-year status review
- Press Release: August 3, 2005 Wright Fishhook Cactus in Western Utah to Remain as an Endangered Species Under the Act; USFWS Initiating Status Review
More information can be found through the Service's ECOS webpage